Performance artist Laurie Anderson plays concert for dogs in New York

It wasn't long before the pooches started howling and barking in appreciation

Laurie Anderson plays music at a low-decibel level for dogs in Times Square (Getty Images)

Performance artist Laurie Anderson gave an audience of dogs the best night of their lives in New York on Monday with a musical concert especially for them.

The free event in Times Square was set up in tribute to 9/11 first responder dogs, with electronic sounds played to the animals over low-decibel speakers. It wasn’t long before dogs start barking and howling at the unexpected noises. Their humans could join in too with ‘silent disco’ style headphones.

The freezing New York weather meant many owners brought blankets for their pups, with some happy to share their dogs’ taste in music with reporters.

Canines in attendance were fans of “cool jazz” and Quicksilver Messenger Service, according to the Guardian.

Anderson’s first feature-length film Heart of a Dog has been shortlisted for an Oscar and a three-minute adaptation is showing on billboards in the square just before midnight throughout January.

The dream-like film celebrates “dogs, time, family, love, memory and death” and was inspired by Anderson’s own rat terrier, which she adopted with late husband Lou Reed.

She first organised a concert for dogs at the Sydney Opera House in 2010